Visit to Civic Offices

On Friday morning  I was up out of bed early, around 4.30, because I had a form to fill in for the Discretionary payment.  It had been another overwhelmingly hot night and it was difficult enough to sleep, so I prefer to get everything sorted well in advance of having to deliver it to the office. I had to provide two bank statements, which I had already got from the NatWest and Nationwide when I'd visited the shopping centre the day before. I knew that I wouldn't be able to return until Phil and Robert had come back to finish off cutting the grass and generally tidying the garden. They got here around 9.30 and were gone by 10.45 and I have to say the garden is now looking absolutely amazing. The grass at the rear of the house (I refuse to term it 'lawn') looks stunning. They've managed to take away the cut grass, which was the big problem I had, because the rotary mower I have doesn't pick up the cut grass, so any mowing after a while just clogs up the machine. They were coming earlier in the week but because of over-night rain it was postponed so it's as well that it's done now because we had rain overnight and it would never have allowed the mower to work properly. Robert had problems with the Strimmer, not being able to get it started, for whatever reason, but he used the mower and it looks almost as good as it's possible to get because the ground is so uneven.

As soon as Robert and Phil had packed up their equipment in their car and driven off, and I'd had another look at their handwork (I don't think the garden has looked so tidy as it is currently. It will need rimming on a monthly basis to keep it in tip-top condition. I can expect to get a call from my landlord in the next couple of weeks, and, even when I've virtually sweated blood to clean the house for his visit, he won't notice the cleanliness of the place, but just say 'have you cut the grass?' It's usually an annual visit for no more than 10 minutes.)  I prepared to drive into the centre of town, park in my usual place and the walk through to the Civic Offices (conveniently next door to my bank, the NatWest.) On arrival you have to sign in using a touch screen. I'm no good at operating these machines, but a staff member helped and the machine disgorged a ticket with a number on it, 257. Then I sat down on one of the sofa benches (for want of a better description.) But, no sooner had my bottom made contact with the sofa than I had to over-hear a conversation right behind me, someone venting forth on some issue or other to a younger man. It was more than I could take, more like an episode from EastEnders. I decided to move away and sit on another of the benches. I was struck by how few people there were in the place, because generally, if I have to go in there, you can sit and wait for a couple of hours. I was wandering, when the computer generated voice was speaking, directing customers to various numbered desks, which are arranged in a couple of rows, each with a bright red, digital display above each, and separated from one another by coloured screens in a range of pastel shades, it made me wonder, do Alexa or Siri, the Artificial Intelligence 'assistants' on my iPhone and Kindle, ever get to know this invisible and formless  person? Just the sort of rubbish that goes through my head whilst sitting and waiting. It wasn't long before my number was called by the computerised system and I was walking across the floor to the desk with my number flashing above it. Quite a surprise to be called so rapidly. I had taken a carrier bag containing my iPhone, a notebook and pencil to possibly make notes and other reading material.

I handed over the form and the two bank statements which were required and the lady at the desk photocopied them and handed back the originals and that was all. She said it would be around two weeks before I heard anything and I could ring their welfare department who would be dealing with my discretionary payment. So I bade my farewells and walked out of the office and went into Costa on the way back into the shopping centre and had a ham and cheese toastie and a mango and  passion fruit cooler, just perfect for such a warm day and, from the number of people in the store, I think everyone else had the same idea as me.

Saturday. It has become a good deal cooler, thank goodness. Tuesday was scorching, as I think I mentioned in the earlier post, when I was at Camphill. Plenty to drink is the order of the day when the temperature rises. It rained overnight, but only a light shower. Nothing to get you drenched. This morning I was hoping to get a bit more of a lie in, much to Alfie's displeasure. I lay in bed, just chilling out and then I heard little doggy feet on the stairs. Alfie is quite capable of jumping on the bed if he sets his mind to it, but I have to pick him up and put him on the bed. He settles down and I hope he will sleep, but not Alfie. I soon feel him prodding me with his paw and then licking my arm. It's clear he's attempting to gain my attention so that I get dressed and take him out. I resist as long as possible but then I just cave in and go to the bathroom to have a shave and then dressed to go downstairs, take my medication and get ready to take Alfie out. As soon as I sit in the lounge and put on my shoes, he starts his barking and excited noises. I have to check the back patio door is closed and locked, pick up several doggy bags from the kitchen unit and then attach the lead to Alfie's harness, by which time he's transmogrified into the Tasmanian Devil, barking and yanking at the lead with his teeth. It is then, as I step out of the front door, that I discover that is's raining, even if only a light drizzle. This doesn't faze Alfie as we cross the road and into the alleyway which leads down into Eaglestone Park. I decided not to attempt the entire circuit of the park and cross over between the play area and the climbing wall. A few weeks ago it was discovered that it hd been covered in graffiti, which I noticed a few days ago. Some of it including obscene words. I would have used my iPhone to take a photo of it and put it on Facebook, but, because the language was so foul I decided against it, but looking at this wall this morning it looks as if Council workmen have managed to obliterate the graffiti with paint, or what appears to be paint.

There was another musical evening at the Oaktree Centre, home of Shenley Christian Fellowship. Plenty to eat as well and it's great to enjoy people singing and otherwise showing their talents in this way.

Sorting Things and Settled Weather

(Wednesday) Gareth has disappeared. Where he went I have no idea. Probably met up with Freya and having a lovely time in the Bahamas or on a tropical island. Having a blow-out somewhere.

I had a call from Camphill this morning. They seem really keen for me to work as a volunteer and will be going to a taster session on Tuesday morning, to work with their video production students. Sounds perfect for me. I can't believe they've got back to me so quickly. I'm really looking forward to starting there. I'm sure that Carol would be pleased for me.

I've managed to sort out a lot of Carol's clothes. Most gone to the Barnardo's shop in Oldbrook. I have been thinking of sorting the things out, but it's been difficult for me. I had asked Shelley next doo to help me, but in the end i just wanted to get it done on my own. I now have more space in the wardrobe and I've discovered stuff in there I haven't seen before or other things that I just haven't seen in years.

Amongst the things I found was a small cube speaker. I think we bought it in Sainsbury's. It's about a couple of inches square, coloured white and mauve. I don't think it cost much more than £10. It was bought to use on one of the laptops to improve the sound, or it may have been to connect to something else, but I have no idea what. Anyway, it had several leads sticking out of it, one for connecting to a U.S.B. port on a computer and the other has a jack plug to connect to a sound output. But I didn't realise that it was Bluetooth. I have two other larger speakers which are Bluetooth, along with a  Godmans soundbar which is connected to the television. It improves the sound a great deal, giving more bass tones. It will also connect to my iPhone and the Kindle, which has Alexa in it. Just connect and speak and Alexa will play music from my Amazon playlist, through the Goodmans soundbar or the other speakers. If I want radio on in the bathroom, I can use an app on he iPhone and it connects so I can have music on when I have a bath. It's taken a while to figure out how to get this to work, as only one device can be connected via the iPhone at one time, otherwise the things get confused. Amazing technology.

Sunday. I just realised, when I took out Alfie earlier, that we have to endure the Milton Keynes marathon going past the house this morning. They've already been round and stuck letters through our letter box informing us that the marathon will close off Golden Drive for several hours, so I can't get out in the car to get to church. I'll just have to stay at home until it's finished. Now, don't get me wrong. I find the marathon a good thing, people enjoying themselves, good to raise money for various 'good causes,' but when it inconveniences people, the fact you can't get out of your home in your car for a few hours and particularly in a Sunday, which is perhaps the only day of the week when people, particularly families, get together and go out for the day, it does seem really unfair and annoying and if you even suggest making a slight tweak to the route, you get some person or other complaining, as I did a couple of years ago when I even breathed a word against this fairly obvious suggestion (that they reroute it along the Redway, which is only a few yards away.) Oh, it's so easy to wind up some people! Just . . . . oh, I can't be bothered. Not going to listen or even agree to disagree! I'm staying put this morning and will miss church, but never mind for one Sunday. I may go out to Sainsbury's or Waitrose later as there's some items I need as I want to bake a cake.

It's bright and sunny, but still chilly. So it should actually be quite a good day for the marathon.

Later. I've managed to do some washing-up. Sorting out one of the cupboards. I thought we had a digital set of scales. If we have, I can't find them. Just a thought, but is scales in the singular or plural? Why a set of scales? Is it when you had an old-fashioned 'set' with the mechanical device onto which you put individual metal weights, in various amounts of weight? I digress, but it did make me wonder and 'scales' in the plural is still used when your device becomes more sophisticated, such as digital or more like a machine with a dial. I've been thinking about this a bit further. What about other items which are only plural, such as trousers? You never have 'a trouser,' much as with scissors, you never get 'a scissor.' Neither would be much use on their own. You wouldn't get far with a scissor, because it needs the other half to make it into scissors and wouldn't function properly, much the same as you couldn't really have a trouser. You could hardly go out with only one leg covered. It wouldn't work and wouldn't make sense and I doubt somehow it would work, apart from looking odd and you'd probably get some odd looks and might end up getting arrested!

I've now done a load of washing. It takes 45 minutes on eco setting, and the washing is now out on two lines in the garden, because it's sunny and there's a good breeze, so it shouldn't take long to dry. That is, unless it rains, which i trust it won't. This will be the first washing I've put outside this year.
I looked out of the bathroom window a minute or two ago (10a.m.) and, lo and behold! There are runners going past on the road! I just hope this marathon, or at least the part going along Golden Drive, is over soon rather than later, so I can get out in the car and go to Sainsbury's.

Oh dear! I knew if I mentioned on Facebook that the so-called Milton Keynes Festival of Running was going past my home this morning and that I was going to be inconvenienced by it (which I am, up to a point) that someone would respond in a 'oh my goodness, someone doesn't like it! Oh, I don't like it when someone doesn't agree with me' sort of attitude, hey presto! The response has been just as I expected. They took the bait! I've got the sort of response I would expect. The fact is, I couldn't actually care less what people do if they want to. It's just that some people (look at what's happening over Brexit.) don't like it when someone dares to have an alternative opinion. Sad really. Just love winding some people up. Naughty, I know, but really loved to see what happened, and it did.

Impaired Hearing

I'm suffering from impaired hearing today. It started last night. I get this on a fairly regular basis. My ears seem to get blocked up with wax. Sorry, I know it's not the most pleasant of topics, but I can't avoid it. It seems the only way to relieve it is to go to the doctor's surgery and get one of the nurses to syringe my ears. It causes really bad headaches and my hearing deteriorates markedly. I've had the syringing done several times. I seem to get really dry skin on my face and around my ears which may have something to do with the build-up of wax inside my ears. I was prescribed a cream to clear up the dryness but I need to see the doctor to get another prescription. I thought I could get an appointment with the nurse by ringing the surgery this morning, but I was told when I got through that I need to see the doctor and then be referred for an appointment with the nurse. Which now means that I will have to go to the surgery on Monday morning before 8 and queue up and get an doctor's appointment. I may not get one on Monday, which means a journey back to the surgery on another day and if I have to make an appointment with the nurse THAT might be in a week or two's time. So I'll have to suffer with impaired hearing for a good deal longer. So, it begs the question, why on earth can't I make a nurse's appointment without seeing the doctor? Surely, as I've been to have my ears syringed several times before, I'm not going to waste the nurse or the doctor's time over something trivial. With the N.H.S. in some sort of financial crisis, it would save one doctor's appointment if I went direct to see the nurse. I can't fathom this out at all. Or is it so the doctor can peer into my ears to see if there's an infection or something so I can then see the nurse or have some sort of medication for it prescribed? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me somehow, I don't know what you think. Actually, I can't think why it's called syringing, as no syringe is used. They use warm water which is injected into your ears with a special sort of gadget which is most certainly not syringe-like. If it was, knowing my dislike of needles, I don't think I would sit around having the thing inserted in my ears or, indeed, anywhere near my person.

I have been working on a new piece of writing. I have had the idea for this story for some time but haven't come across how to develop it, until a few days ago. I have written several pages but have been working on the main central part of the plot which has been going very well this morning. It will take quite a bit more thought and effort to complete it, but when I have it finished and revised it I will upload it to Shortbread Stories, a site which is specifically for short stories which can be downloaded and read using ebook readers and Kindles.  I have now got several bits and pieces at various stages of development in my notebooks which I put away when things aren't quite going as well as they might, but then, when a new idea comes to me I bring them out and do a bit more work on them.

With everything else going on at the moment my digital watch has packed up. Well, it is working, but it's not showing the correct time. So it's not much use to me.  It's a Casio digital watch which I got from Amazon. It has something on it called  'wave ceptor ' which means it keeps the time correct by receiving a radio signal from the atomic clock somewhere in England which happens at midnight. I does mean that the time is always accurate, but the watch has had a habit of going completely nuts and showing the wrong time. I have to say I'm not very impressed, even though it was a cheap watch. I have never had any problems with digital watches until this one started playing up. It had a resin strap which didn't last long which I had replaced with a metal one.  I once bought a really decent digital watch from Samuel's jewellers. It wasn't cheap, around £45 or so. They told me I could buy an extended warranty for it which would cost something like £15, which seemed a good idea at the time, because I needed a reliable watch, so if it broke down and needed repair the extended warranty would cover it. Or so I thought. It had quite a nice strap on it, made of fabric and leather, which was what appealed to me. So I bought it, and wore it, and all went well, it kept good time and I was happy with it. But then, well over a year past the day I had originally bought it, the thing went wrong. The screen went blank. No time. No nothing. Just dead as a proverbial dodo. So I took the thing back to Samuels, thinking, goody, I have an extended warranty, they'll fix it. There should be no problem. But what do they tell me when I take it in to have it looked at? It's the battery or something. It's not covered by the warranty. I'm not happy about this, as you can imagine. You would think that something like a battery malfunction would be covered by the warranty. But apparently not. But they had made their money out of the original sale as well as the extended warranty which for some reason didn't cover the fault. Very convenient and as a result I don't intend spending my money in H. Samuel's jewellery shops ever again if that's the way they treat their customers.